THE GIFTS OF THE BELIEVERS
2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9
Introduction.
Paul suggests to believers that they follow the example of the churches in Macedonia (northern Greece) in sending a monetary gift to impoverished believers in Judea; we can read it in Acts 24:17.
Chapter 8
The example of the Macedonian Christians – verses 1 to 6
The churches of Macedonia would mainly be those of Philippi, Berea and Thessalonica (Acts 16:11 and 17:15). They suffered constant persecution, grew spiritually and asked Paul to do them the favour of taking a gift from them to Judea.
Note that these Macedonian believers devoted themselves primarily to the Lord (v.5). See John 20:15-17, where we learn that the Lord wants our love first, before our service.
Paul advised Titus to lead the Corinthian believers to take part in that work of Christian love (v.6).
The example of Christ – verses 7 to 9
The Corinthians, Paul says, had clearly shown (by their practical reaction to his first letter) sincerity in their Christian faith; may they also show zeal in this act of love which Paul was asking - not demanding - them to do (i.e. take part in contributing to Judea).
The great example of this love is seen in Jesus Christ, for He, being extremely rich with all the riches of heaven and the glory of the Godhead, became so poor a man that "he had nowhere to lay his head “and submitted to death on a cross - all that we might receive the endless riches of eternal life.
Paul's advice – verses 10 to 15
Since the last year, the Corinthians had shown good will, having begun their contributions to the "Jewish fund" (10-11).
They should complete the work, as possible to them; God did not require the impossible, nor that they should become poor in order to enrich others. He wanted an interplay between the churches to maintain a level of equality in all. To illustrate this, Paul mentions the case of the Israelites and the manna (Exodus 16:18).
The servants of the churches - verses 16 to 24
Titus and “another brother" were sent to Corinth to receive the contribution of this church for assistance to the churches in Judea. This "other brother" was elected by the churches in Macedonia to accompany Paul, thus avoiding any criticism (16-21).
With these will also go “our brother", zealous and well experienced in the Christian life. So Titus and the two brothers mentioned in verses. 18 and 22 would be messengers approved by the churches for that service and the Corinthians would show before them their love for Paul and justify the joy with which he always spoke of them (22-24).
Chapter 9
Promptness – verses 1 to 5
Paul says he had told the Macedonian believers that those of Achaia (southern Greece and Corinth) were already preparing their contribution to the donation to needy Christians in Judea. So he wanted everything to be ready on arrival of the brethren who would take the money to Jerusalem. It was a sort of friendly rivalry between the Christians of Achaia and Macedonia, in their readiness to help the brethren in Judea! So everyone would understand that all was the result of their generosity, not of his avarice.
Sowing and reaping verses 6 to 9
As a rule, harvest corresponds generally to that which was sown in kind, quality and quantity, in commerce, in agriculture and in spiritual things (v.6).
God wants "joy" in sowing - that is, in the gifts of believers, and He will give them spiritual power (grace) to fulfil their desires to serve Him. True charity to the needy is the characteristic of the righteous (v. 9 - quoted from Psalm 112:9).
God is glorified – verses 10 to 14
All that the believers give is from God, that He might be glorified. He will supply all that the Corinthians need in order to send a great gift - and He will get a great "harvest" in the gratitude of the Jewish believers (10-12).
They will praise God, not only for receiving the monetary assistance, but also for the wonderful manifestation of God's grace in the believers who have donated. The Jewish believers will pray for the generous Gentile believers (13-14).
The indescribable gift – verse 15.
Much above all that the believers can give is the great GIFT that God gave the world - the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son - "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). By receiving Christ, we receive with Him the "gift of God, eternal life" (Romans 6:23). Christ is "the indescribable Gift "- that is, one cannot describe Him in human words.
Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)
1. Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;
14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, "HE WHO GATHERED MUCH HAD NOTHING LEFT OVER, AND HE WHO GATHERED LITTLE HAD NO LACK."
16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.
18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,
19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,
20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—
21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.
23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
2 Corinthians chapter 8
1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;
2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.
3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready;
4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: "HE HAS DISPERSED ABROAD, HE HAS GIVEN TO THE POOR; HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER."
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians chapter 9